Launched in 2007, Mobisy enables orders from over 5 mn retail outlets (about a third of India's retail ecosystem) and its goal is to build products that can positively change the lives of various stakeholders of the retail ecosystem.

"Our investors believed in us and our project, and supported us when we needed it the most. With healthy cash flows, we (founders) were able to consolidate our holding in the company and the investors valued our decision," Taksande explains.

Addressing the gap are startups like Mokshshil and Anthyesti, who have ventured into the organized funeral management services - a category that is unorganised and unstructured with a number of local service providers.

The extremely limited talent pool and the lack of exposure makes Kolkata a difficult place to startup and grow. This meant FusionCharts Pallav Nadhani had to shift to Bangalore after he realized the city's dearth of experts limited his ability to grow.